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plug into God's power

Three ways to plug into God’s power

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In this blog, I offer three ways for mothers and daughters to plug into God’s amazing grace and mighty power that far exceeds girl power. Be sure to review the lies about the girl power movement with your daughter.

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

I remember when my daughter first saw this verse. She thought she could defy gravity! Imagine the possibilities! She could win first place in her cross-country meet. Ace her math test. “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me!” she exclaimed. But no matter how hard she tried, she didn’t get first place and that math test was harder than she expected. She felt exhausted and defeated.

girl power vs God's power

What is the source of your strength? Better asked … Who is the source of your strength? Girl power or God’s power? 

Girl power is driven by results and must be earned. The promise is conditional. If you work hard enough and win, you get credit. If you work hard and fail. You feel like a failure. The burden is always on you to perform. It’s no wonder girls suffer from depression and anxiety more than at any time in history. Girl power is fake power. 

But God’s power is unconditional, never-ending and a free gift from Jesus. This Bible verse, penned by the apostle Paul, promises Christ-followers the power of Jesus in all circumstances. Christ’s strength will empower you in any situation, in good times and in bad. If you win, he celebrates with you. If you lose, God strengthens you with his comfort and peace. God’s power is real power.

A girl can do anything not because of who she is or how hard she tries. A girl can do anything because of whose she is and His name is Jesus! 

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16

In the spirit of “Lies Girls Believe” (shout out to Dannah Gresh at True Girl 😍) I’d like to expose the lies of the girl power movement and offer three ways to plug into God’s power.

You and your daughter can read each of these contrasting statements and give examples of the difference between girl power and God’s power in your life.

  • Girl power is self-centered vs. God’s power is others-focused.

Girl power seeks to do whatever makes you happy. It’s self-centered and self-seeking, but God says his power will compel you to love Him and love others first. 

“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39

  • Girl power demands “it’s my body, it’s my choice” vs. God’s power declares you to be “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

  • Girl power puts men and boys down to gain power vs. God’s power created men and women equally for each other.

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Genesis 2:18

  • Girl power is fueled by emotions vs. God’s power is fueled by truth.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

  • Girl power requires work vs. God’s power is a free gift.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Can you think of other examples?

Plug into God’s power.plug into God's power

The girl power movement instructs girls to look on the inside for power. I’m not sure about you, but when I go digging for power inside of myself, I wind up exhausted and empty. My power source is a moving target depending on my mood and emotions. 

God’s power is an external source. It comes from the outside.

Here are three ways to plug into God’s power!

Have you ever used an electrical appliance such as a toaster or hairdryer? Do you wonder where the power comes from? What happens if it’s not plugged into a power source?

If you want to shine for God, you must plug into his power. Your light does not come from the inside out. Instead, it comes from the outside, in. To power an appliance, plug it into an outlet. To get God’s power, plug yourself into his outlets called the “means of grace.”  The means of grace are the outlets God guarantees from his word to deliver faith, the forgiveness of sins and the power to shine. Here are three outlets to receive God’s power so you can shine bright.

#1. God’s Word.

The Bible is God’s primary outlet. His Word unfolds the grand narrative of salvation through Jesus. Simply listen or read the Bible and receive the promise of faith. 

“So faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:7

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16

You might not understand what you are reading (yet!) but keep hearing the word of Christ. Trust God to give you this unending gift of faith when you listen to His word. His light will begin to shine in you!

#2. Baptism

The Bible is filled with water! Well, not literally, but from Genesis through Revelation almost every reference to water points to baptism and its power to forgive sins, rescue from death and the devil, and give salvation to all who believe.  Jesus commanded his disciples to baptize all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). When the water and the Word are splashed, poured or immersed on you, you can shine bright and proclaim, “I am baptized into Christ,” and be certain that the comforting words of Romans 8:1 are true:

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” 

#3. Communion

One of my pastors likes to say, “If the water seals it, then the food feeds it.” The sacred meal referred in several ways such as Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper, is an outlet to receive God’s power to shine. When we eat and drink his body and blood under the bread and wine, we receive the forgiveness of sins and a bright boost of faith power.

Martin Luther said, “this is a profound wonder and unexplainable mystery.”

Stay plugged into Jesus and receive God’s unending power! Look at you! God’s power is your strength!

 

The Bible offers spiritual disciplines too!

Prayer, fasting, worship, service in your community, and honoring the Sabbath Day are just a few that came to mind. 

These spiritual disciplines are not meant to be legalistic activities. We do not do things to earn God’s love. We practice these disciplines because we already have the fullness of God’s love through his son Jesus. Spiritual disciplines are given to us directly by God. God promises to meet you in these activities to bless and comfort you.

So plugin and receive God’s unending power! You can do all things through Christ who will strengthen you!

Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls age six and up.

Request a free self-defense video and lesson plan 

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You Can Teach Martial Arts with The Great Flip

Does your child struggle with low self-esteem or anxiety? The martial arts is a proven confidence-builder! You can teach martial arts with my online martial arts resources at The Great Flip. Request a free video and lesson plan. Your child will learn the Top 12 Self-Defense Skills and earn a certificate of completion. Click here for more information.

Click here for the Top 12 Self-Defense Skills

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The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance.

Visit my page exclusively for American Heritage Girls!

Coach Jody is a contributing writer for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh.

 

“I will make a helper” and girl power

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It is my desire to counter the culture with God’s truth and design for girl power. When God created Eve he said, ” I will make a helper…”

I believe being a helper is a position of strength, not weakness.  What do you think? 

Want to listen instead? Click here to listen to my podcast!

But make sure you read to the bottom to participate in my summer challenge!

 

The word “helper” has gotten a bad wrap, especially among girls and women. If I’m honest, my first reaction to the title of “helper” is to become suspicious, puffed up and offended. 

But the Bible tells a different story about the attributes and strength of the “helper.”

The first mention of the word “helper” is found in the Old Testament in the creation account in Genesis. “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Then several more times, Eve is referred to as Adam’s helper. 

Why do I assume the “helper” status is lower than the one being helped? Doesn’t the helper allow the one being helped to be greater? 

God, himself is referred to as “helper.” Moses referred to God as his helper who saved him. “My father’s God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.” Exodus 18:3-5

The Psalms ofter refer to God as a helper. God is the helper of the fatherless. Battles are won because God is our helper.

“The Lord is with me; he is my helper.  I look in triumph on my enemies.” Psalm 118:7

The New Testament writers remind us about the strong attribute of Jesus as our helper.

“God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.”

Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the “helper” to his disciples. This helper lives inside us. “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:25-27

I’m not a theologian, but I have an opinion about that moment back in Genesis. That moment in the Garden of Eden. That moment when Satan targeted Eve. He knew the power of the helper. He knew she was the first of the helpers. The one who would bring forth our ultimate helper.

But his plan did not work. Our helper came forth to conquer sin, death and the devil. Our help is in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Now we have been called to help others in that same might and strength.

If God can be a helper … so can you! Stand strong in your attribute as a helper! 

Who do you consider to be “helpers” in your family, community? Do these people seem weak to you? Or do they build you up? Step into your God-given strength as a helper. What does a helper look like to you? 

God calls us to love him and love our neighbor. He helps us, help others. This is a position of strength, not weakness.

This is the kind of girl power God is creating in you. 

This is #thegreatflip

–  Coach Jody

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Find an online self-defense course for home, school, almost anywhere! 

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Countering the Bully Culture with The Beauty Mentor

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Kristiauna Lattimer is The Beauty Mentor. She shares her Christian worldview about true beauty and countering the bully culture in a conversation with Coach Jody at The Great Flip Podcast.

 

And if your daughter would like the free devotion called “A Girl’s Guide to Self Defense,” click here and request your free copy. Kristiauna and Jody created this resource to connect your daughters’ body, mind and spirit with practical tips and biblical encouragement.

In the podcast, mothers and daughters learn eight Biblical principles about the definition of beauty. Girls learn how to counter the bully culture with practical tools to be empowered physically, emotionally and mentally. And stick around to the very end of this blog to try fun self-defense techniques from Coach Jody at The Great Flip. (You don’t want to miss this!)

 

About the Beauty Mentor

But before you click on the podcast, let me tell you a little bit about Kristiauna. She is an amazing young lady. At a young age, she worked in the beauty industry and saw first hand the distortion of beauty toward girls. It’s no wonder our daughters struggle with self-esteem and parents shy away from beauty products for their daughters. Kristiauna decided to counter the culture and reclaim beauty for our girls! And now with a young daughter of her own, she takes her role seriously by God’s amazing grace. Check out the Eight Biblical Principles below!

Kristiauna started the The Beauty Mentor, a faith-based company that provides beauty and mentoring products and services for girls and women of all ages. Her mission is to Reveal, Redirect and Restore the Truth about Beauty. And might I add, she has Reclaimed beauty too! Visit her website and do a little shopping when we are done here. But let’s look at the definition of true beauty.

True Beauty is …

According to Kristiauna, true beauty embraces these eight Biblical principles:

  1. patience
  2. kindness
  3. modesty
  4. decency
  5. gentleness
  6. joy
  7. a loving character, and
  8. God’s creative ability flowing through you

And these beauty principles are available to every girls through God’s word. Kristiauna offers Bible verses for each principle to encourage girls. Beauty is freely given by God’s grace through faith.

“And something amazing happens when true beauty is revealed, redirected and restored. Suddenly, girls have the strength and dignity to stand up and counter the bullying culture.” -Coach Jody

Anti-Bullying Resources from The Beauty Mentor

Some say that girls tend to get in trouble because of their mouth, according to Kristiauna. One of her beauty products is a lip balm kit which inspires girls to use their mouth for kindness. This beauty product is inspired by this Bible verse;

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31:26

And if a girl is a victim of a bully, The Beauty Mentor shares activities to help girls re-focus her thoughts upon herself and off of the bully. Teaching girls to be introspective and practice self-evaluation is a valuable life skill. For example, The Beauty Mentor recommends the Heart Dump activity. Girls are encouraged to draw a big heart on a sheet of paper. Next girls literally dump her emotions onto the paper. Kristiauna says that once the negative emotions are uprooted from her heart, God’s word can be replanted. And God’s word is more than positive affirmation; She knows that God’s word will Reveal, Redirect and Restore our girls!

Request the Free Girl’s Guide to Self Defense here

The Great Flip

While Kristiauna is restoring beauty for our daughters. Coach Jody is empowering girls with simple self-defense skills. The Great Flip is online self defense and life skills for girls ages six and older. The Great Flip was inspired by Jody’s daughters who wanted to learn self-defense skills without going to the stinky co-ed gym. They wanted to learn self defense in a safe place with safe friends. So Jody developed a series of online self-defense videos that are simple, practical and empowering.

And self defense is much more than a physical reaction at The Great Flip. Self defense is a life skill that embraces a girls whole being. Girls learn to use her voice, her body language and distance management as part of a self-defense strategy.

Anti-Bullying @ The Great Flip

The Great Flip offers an Anti-Bullying Activity to guide girls through mental, emotional and physical activities. The Anti-Bullying Activity features a bully inventory, self-awareness activities, role playing, encouraging Bible verses and two empowering self-defense techniques to try at home, at church or any where you have internet access.

Try Anti-Bullying Activity. 

The Beauty Mentor and The Great Flip together!

Imagine a retreat or workshop where girls can spend time learning about Biblical beauty, experiencing God’s creative ability flowing through them, then engaging in positive empowering physical activities from The Great Flip.  You can make that happen!

Get your girls together and contact The Beauty Mentor and The Great Flip!

First, shop The Beauty Mentor website for programs to fit your ministry needs. Next subscribe to The Great Flip and gain access to a library of online self-defense techniques and/or curriculum.

Enjoy the podcast and I’ll see you on the mat!

-Coach Jody

Here’s a showcase of videos from The Great Flip. Give one a try!